Your headshots, CV and showreel are your professional calling cards as an actor. They’re what agents, casting directors and producers use to decide whether to see you for a role. Having strong, professional materials significantly increases your chances of getting auditions and booking work.
This guide explains what makes effective headshots, how to build a solid acting CV, and how to create a showreel that showcases your abilities — even if you have limited footage to work with.
Why your headshot, CV and showreel matter
Agents and casting directors see hundreds of submissions for every role. Your materials need to:
- Look professional: Amateur or sloppy materials suggest you’re not serious about acting
- Show who you are clearly: Casting directors need to see what you actually look like and what you can do
- Be easy to assess quickly: Industry professionals don’t have time for overly long or confusing materials
Good materials won’t guarantee you work, but poor materials will almost certainly cost you opportunities.
Good actor headshots: what casting wants to see
A headshot is a high-quality photo that looks like you. That’s it. It’s not a glamorous portrait, a heavily styled fashion shoot, or an airbrushed fantasy version of yourself.
What makes a good headshot
- It looks like you right now: Not five years ago, not heavily edited, not styled beyond recognition
- Natural and approachable: You should look like yourself on a good day, not like a model or celebrity
- Good eye contact: Your eyes should be clear, engaged and visible
- Clean background: Plain, neutral backgrounds keep focus on your face
- Good lighting: Professional, flattering light that shows your features clearly
- High resolution: Sharp, clear images that look professional when viewed on screen or printed
What to avoid
- Over-editing: Don’t heavily Photoshop your skin, eyes or features
- Distracting styling: Avoid busy patterns, excessive makeup, or anything that draws attention away from your face
- Filters and effects: No Instagram filters, black-and-white (unless specifically requested), or artistic effects
- Old photos: If your appearance has changed significantly (hair, weight, age), update your headshots
Types of headshots
Most actors need at least two headshots:
- A neutral or smiling shot: Warm, approachable, versatile
- A more serious or dramatic shot: For roles requiring intensity or gravitas
Some actors also have character shots (e.g., corporate, period, specific looks), but these are optional and depend on your casting range.
Finding a photographer in Ireland
Look for a photographer who specialises in actor headshots. Ask:
- Can I see examples of their actor headshot work?
- What’s included in the session (number of shots, looks, retouching)?
- What’s the cost and turnaround time?
- Do working actors recommend them?
Prices vary, but expect to pay a few hundred euro for a professional session. This is an investment, not an expense — good headshots pay for themselves by getting you more auditions.
Avoid:
- Photographers with no experience shooting actors
- Heavily stylised or fashion-focused photographers whose work doesn’t look natural
- Anyone offering suspiciously cheap headshots (the quality will show)
When to update your headshots
Update your headshots when:
- Your appearance changes significantly (hair, weight, age)
- Your current headshots are more than 2-3 years old
- Your headshots no longer accurately represent how you look now
- You’re getting feedback that your headshots aren’t working
Building an effective acting CV
Your acting CV is a one-page document listing your training, experience and skills. It’s not a standard job CV — it’s formatted specifically for the acting industry.
What to include
Your name and contact details
- Your name at the top
- Phone number and email address
- If you have an agent, list their contact details instead of your own
Physical stats
- Height
- Hair colour
- Eye colour
- Playing age (the age range you can convincingly play)
Training
- Drama schools, courses, workshops
- Relevant qualifications (degrees, diplomas)
- Notable teachers or coaches
List the most relevant and recent training first.
Experience
Break this into sections:
- Theatre: Role, production, theatre/company, director
- Film: Role, film title, director, production company
- Television: Role, show title, broadcaster, production company
- Commercials: Often just listed as “Various commercials available on request” to save space
List roles in reverse chronological order (most recent first).
Special skills
- Accents and dialects
- Languages
- Musical instruments
- Sports and physical skills
- Driving licence (full, provisional, none)
- Any other relevant skills (singing, dancing, stage combat, etc.)
Only list skills you’re genuinely competent in. Don’t claim you can do something if you can’t — you will be found out.
What NOT to include
- Irrelevant work experience: Don’t list non-acting jobs unless they’re directly relevant to a specific role
- Personal information: Age, marital status, nationality (unless relevant), personal hobbies unrelated to acting
- Lies or exaggerations: Agents and casting directors check credits. Don’t invent training or experience you don’t have
- Unpaid student films if you have professional credits: Once you have solid professional work, you can remove early unpaid projects
Formatting tips
- Keep it to one page
- Use a clean, readable font
- Organise information clearly with headings and spacing
- Save as a PDF to preserve formatting
- Name the file clearly (e.g., “YourName_ActingCV.pdf”)
Your CV will grow and evolve as you gain more experience. Update it regularly, especially after booking new roles or completing training.
Creating a showreel, even with limited footage
A showreel is a short video (1-2 minutes) showcasing your best on-camera work. It’s essential for screen work, though less critical for theatre-only actors.
What casting directors want to see
- You performing: Not group scenes where you’re barely visible, or ensemble moments where it’s unclear who you are
- Range: Different characters, tones, emotions if possible
- Quality footage: Professionally shot and edited, clear sound, good lighting
- Natural performance: Strong, believable acting that works on screen
How to get footage
Getting your first showreel footage is often the hardest part. Options include:
Short films and student projects
This is the most common way to build initial footage. Many filmmakers need actors and will provide footage in return for your time.
Look for:
- Film school projects (IADT, TU Dublin, other colleges)
- Independent short films with decent production values
- Web series or online content
Make sure you have written permission to use footage for your showreel before agreeing to work on a project.
Paid or professional work
Once you start booking paid roles, you can request footage for your showreel. Productions don’t always provide it, but many will if you ask professionally.
Professionally shot showreel scenes
Some companies offer bespoke showreel services where they film scripted scenes specifically for your reel. This can be expensive and sometimes looks staged, but it’s an option if you’re struggling to get footage otherwise.
Avoid using:
- Footage shot on a phone with poor sound and lighting
- Scenes from well-known films or shows where you re-enact someone else’s performance
- Anything that looks amateurish or unprofessional
How to structure your showreel
- Start with your strongest material: You have seconds to grab attention
- Keep it short: 1-2 minutes total is ideal. Casting directors won’t watch longer.
- Lead with you: Don’t start with title cards, montages or other actors. Start with you performing.
- Show range if possible: Different characters, tones, emotions — but only if you have the footage
- No music or effects unless it’s part of the original footage: Keep it simple and clean
- End with your contact details or agent’s details
Editing your showreel
If you’re not confident editing video yourself, hire a professional editor who specialises in actor showreels. This usually costs a few hundred euro and is worth it for a polished result.
Make sure the editor:
- Knows how to structure actor showreels
- Uses high-quality footage
- Keeps it short and focused on you
- Delivers files in appropriate formats (usually MP4)
What if you have no footage yet?
If you’re just starting out and have no footage, that’s okay. Focus on:
- Getting experience in short films and student projects where you can gain footage
- Building your headshots and CV first
- Approaching agents once you have at least some basic footage
Don’t create a showreel with poor-quality material just to have one. It’s better to have no showreel than a bad one.
Keeping your materials updated
Your materials need to stay current. Review and update them regularly:
- Headshots: Every 2-3 years, or whenever your appearance changes significantly
- CV: After every new role, course or relevant skill
- Showreel: Whenever you get better footage that replaces older or weaker material
As your career progresses, your materials should reflect your current level and the types of roles you’re pursuing.
Final thoughts
Professional headshots, a solid CV and a strong showreel are essential tools for any actor serious about working in Ireland. They won’t guarantee success, but they dramatically increase your chances of being seen, considered and cast.
Invest in good materials, keep them updated, and make sure they accurately represent who you are and what you can do. When your materials are ready, approach agents and casting directors confidently, knowing you’re presenting yourself as a professional, serious actor.